Hair curling device



Nov. 26, 1968 B. HENSLEY 3,412,738

HAIR CURLING DEVICE Filed Sept. 3, 1965 INVENTOR. F|G.5 IRENE B. HENSLEY ATTORNEYS United States 3,412,738 HAIR CURLING DEVICE Irene B. Hensley, 3274 Canterbury Road. Westlake, Ohio 44145 Filed Sept. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 484,831 Claims. (Cl. 13240) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to devices for curling or setting hair, and more particularly to a hair curling device for curling the hair of a wig and which can be readily attached to and detached from a wig mount.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for curling or setting hair which is of a highly practical form and economical construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for curling hair comprising a substantially nondeformable cylindrically shaped tubular member having a multiplicity of minute, irregularly shaped, integrally formed protrusions on its outer side which project radially outwardly therefrom, the number and size of protrusions being such that hair wrapped therearound is effectively retained on the tubular member and such that moistened hair wrapped therearound will not stick to the tubular member when being uncurled subsequent to being dried.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hair curling device for wigs comprising a substantially nondeformable cylindrically shaped tubular member for curling the hair of a wig and attaching means rotatably supported within the tubular member for attaching the hair curling device to a wig mount which includes a pair of prongs projecting radially outwardly of the tubular member at its opposite ends which are adapted to be inserted into the wig mount to attach the device thereto and retain the tubular member in place relative to the wig.

Other objects, novel characteristics and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a hair curling device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of part of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the roller thereof shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a wig mount showing the device shown in FIG. 1 mounted thereto;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of a hair curling device embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the hair curling device shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, one highly practical embodiment of a hair curling device of the present invention is there shown and generally designated by reference numeral 10. The hair curling device 10 is particularly adapted for use in curling and setting the atent C) hair of a wig 11 when the latter is mounted on a wig mount 12, and comprises, in general, a hollow roller or tubular member 13 around which the hair of the wig 11 is adapted to be wrapped and an attaching means 14 rotatably supported by the tubular member 13 for at taching the latter to the wig mount 12.

The roller 13 is here shown as being in the form of a hollow cylindrically shaped member open at its opposite ends 15 and 16. The roller 13 can be made from any suitable plastic or metallic material and can be of any suitable length. The roller 13 preferably has a radial wall thickness such that it will not deform or substantially deform when moistened or wet hair is Wrapped therearound and subsequently dried.

The roller 13 on its outer side 18 is provided with a multiplicity of minute protrusions or peaks 20 formed integral therewith and having depressions or valleys 22 between the protrusions 20. The protrusions 20 are here shown as being formed over the entire outer surface area of the outer side 18, although they could be formed over less than the entire outer surface area, if desired. The protrusions 20 extend radially outwardly of the outer side 18 and are of an irregular shape or configuration and preferably have side surfaces which are uneven or ragged. The height of the individual protrusions 20, in the preferred embodiment, is from .003" to .015 and number of protrusion formed on the outer side 18 per square inch thereof is from 1,000 to 10,000. The multiplicity of protrusions 20 define an outer surface which may be said to be generally akin in feel to the surface defined by a fine grade of sandpaper. The number, configuration and size of the protrusions 20 are such that they will effectively grasp moistened hair wrapped around the roller 13 to retain or hold the same thereon, but yet will readily release the hair upon being dried and uncurled without the hair sticking to the roller 13.

The protrusions 20 can be formed on the plastic or metallic roller 13 by a conventional or suitable etching process. The roller if made from a plastic material could also be formed by an injection molding process wherein the mold would have depressions corresponding to the number and shape of the protrusions desired.

The attaching means 14 for attaching the roller 13 to the wig mount 12 after the hair of the wig 11 is wrapped therearound comprises a spring rotatably supported by the roller 13 and a pair of prongs 31 and 32 which project radially outwardly of the roller 13 at its opposite ends 15 and 16. The spring 30 and the prongs 31 and 32 are integral with each other and are here shown as being formed from a single piece of wire. The spring 30 is radially expandable and contractible and comprises a linear midportion 34 in which the wire is straight and extends parallel to the axis of the roller 13 and a pair of curled or arcuate end portions 35 and 36 at the opposite ends of the midportion 34 which lie in planes extending generally perpendicular to the axis of the roller 13 and spaced inwardly from the adjacent ends 15 and 16 thereof. The circumferential extent of the curl of the end portions 35 and 36 is slightly less than a circle to enable the spring 30 to be radially contracted and expanded. The diameter of the curled end portions, when the latter are free of any radial restraint, is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the roller 13 so that when the spring 30 is positioned within the roller 13, by radially contracting the spring 30 and inserting the same into the roller 13, the spring 30 tends to expand to its position when free of any radial restraint whereby its linear midportion 34 and curled end portions 35 and 36 engage the inner wall of the roller 13.

Each of the prongs 31 and 32 is L-shaped with one leg 40 thereof extending from the adjacent curled end por- 3 tion of the spring 31 to the end of the roller 13 and the other leg 41 thereof extending perpendicular to the leg 40 and radially outwardly of the roller 13 at its end.

To form the attaching means 14, an initially straight piece of wire of a suitable length is bent to form a right angle at a pair of locations spaced equally from the midpoint of its length to form the linear midportion 34 of the spring 30. The wire is then arcuately bent at the ends of the linear midportion to form the curled end portions 35 and 36 of the spring 30. Each of the remaining ends of the wire is then bent at a right angle at the end of the curled end portion remote from the linear midportion 34 so as to extend parallel to and in a direction away from the linear midportion 34. When the wire has been so bent, it is radially contracted and positioned within the hollow roller 13 so that the curled end portions of the spring 30 are equally spaced inwardly from the ends of the roller 13. The portions of the wire projecting beyond the ends of the roller 13 are then bent at right angles to form the prongs or pins 31 and 32 which project radially outwardly of the roller 13.

From the above, it is apparent that the hair curling device is attached to the wig mount 12 after the hair of the wig 11 is wrapped around the roller 13 by inserting the prongs 31 and 32 into the wig mount 12. As a result of the attaching means 14 being rotatably supported by the roller 13, the attaching means 14 can be readily rotated relative to the roller 13 to position the prongs 31 and 32 so that they project toward the wig mount 12 prior to inserting them therein. To facilitate insertion of the prongs 31 and 32 into the wig mount, the projecting ends thereof are preferably pointed. The frictional engagement between the spring and the roller 13 as a result of the outward biasing force exerted by the spring 30 is sutficient to prevent the roller 13 from rotating relative to the spring 30 due to the natural tendency of the hair to uncurl itself when the device 10 is attached to the wig mount.

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of hair curling device which is particularly adapted for curling and setting live human hair, although it could also be used for curling and setting the hair of wigs. The hair curling device 50 comprises a hollow roller 51 which is of an identical construction to the roller 13 and a hairpin or spring clip 52 for retaining the hair wrapped around the roller in its curled or wrapped position.

The hairpin 52 is here shown as having a pair of arms 53 and 54 and a curled end 55. The arms are preferably about an inch in length and about one quarter inch in width and the distance between the arms is less than the radial wall thickness of the roller 51. When the hairpin 52 is attached to the roller 51, one arm is received in the roller and clampingly engages the inner side thereof and the other arm is disposed outside of the roller in clamping engagement with the hair to retain the same on the roller 51. To facilitate attachment of the hairpin to the roller 51 the arms :are provided with ends 58 which are bent or curved in a direction away from the sides thereof which engage the roller and/ or hair.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a novel hair curling device of a highly practical form and economical construction has been provided. Moreover, it can be seen that :a hair curling device having a roller provided with integrally formed projections for grasping or retaining the hair curled therearound has been provided. Additionally, it can be seen that a hair curling device having a hollow cylindrically shaped member provided with a novel form of attaching means rotatably supported thereby for readily attaching the hair curler to a wig mount after the hair has been wrapped around the member has been provided.

It is to be understood that the term hair as used 4 in the specification and claims encompasses human hair and any other type of hair-like or synthetic material which can be used as a substitute for human hair for wigs.

Although the hair curling devices of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope but include all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A hair curling device for curling the hair of a wig and which is adapted to be attached to a wig mount after the hair of the wig is wrapped therearound comprising, a substantially cylindrically shaped tubular member around which the hair of a wig is adapted to be wrapped and attaching means rotatably supported by said tubular mem her for attaching the latter to a wig mount, said attaching means comprising a spring means slidably supported within said tubular member for rotational movement relative thereto and a pair of prongs connected with said spring means and projecting radially outwardly of the tubular member at its opposite ends which are adapted to be inserted into a wig mount, said spring means having curled end portions having a diameter when free of any radial restraint which is greater than the inside diameter of the roller so that it frictionally engages the roller along its inner surface whereby relative rotation between the attaching means and tubular member is prevented when the device is attached to a wig mount due to the natural tendency of the hair wrapped around the roller to uncurl.

2. A hair curling device for curling the hair of a Wig and which is adapted to be attached to a wig mount :after the hair of the wig is wrapped therearound comprising, a substantially cylindrically shaped tubular member having protrusions projecting radially outwardly from its outer side which are adapted to grasp the hair of the wig when it is wrapped around the tubular member, and attaching means rotatably supported by said tubular member for attaching the latter to a wig mount, said attaching means comprising :a spring means slidably supported within said tubular member for rotational movement relative thereto and a pair of prongs connected with said spring means and projecting radially outwardly of the tubular member at its opposite ends which are adapted to be inserted into a wig mount, said spring means having curled end portions having a diameter when free of any radial restraint which is greater than the inside diameter of the roller so that it frictionally engages the roller along its inner surface whereby relative rotation between the attaching means and tubular member is prevented when the device is attached to a wig mount due to the natural tendency of the hair wrapped around the roller to uncurl.

3. A hair curling device, as defined in claim 2, wherein said protrusions are of an irregular shape and have a height from .003" to .015" and with the number of protrusions per square inch of outer surface area ranging from 1,000 to 10,000.

4. A hair curling device, as defined in claim 2, wherein said prongs have pointed ends.

5. A hair curling device, as defined in claim 2, wherein said attaching means is formed from a single piece of wire.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,888,937 6/1959 Weldon.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

I. W. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiner. 

